Car-coupling



(Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. W. WHITTINGTON.

GAR COUPLING. No. 249,712. Patented Nov. 15,1881.

fil h/eases, Inveni oT',

/ M I I Z? (ModeL) 2 Sheets-:Sheet 2.

G. W. WHITTINGTON.

OAR GOUBLING. No. 249,712. Patented Nov. 15,1881.

' vation of one side of the draw-head,with coupin a vertical line, for receiving the well-known NITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

GEORGE WV. WHITTINGTON, OF XENIA, OHIO.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 249,712, dated November 15, 1881.

Application filed Octobcr10,1881. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE \V.W11rrrrna TON, of Xenia, in the county of Greene, and in the State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

This invention relates to railroad car-couplers of the kind commonly denominated selfeouplers, and the nature of myinvention'consists, first, in the combination,with a draw-head having vertical and horizontal recesses, of a hinged drop hung from the top of the horizontal recess, and adapted to engage an arrowhead bolt, in combination with a verticallymovable litter, a lever for actuating the same, and a catch for holding thelever when the litter is raised, as will be hereinafter fully explained; second, in a sliding wedgeshaped block, and a lever for moving the same, adapted for raising or depressingthe coupling end of the drawhead, as will be hereinafter explained.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is an eleling-bar attached, having my improvements applied. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken in the plane indicated by dotted line mm, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is avertical section taken longitudinally and centrally through the drawhead. Fig. at is a bottom view of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 shows the arrow-head coupling-bar.

In the annexed drawings, A designates the draw-head, which is constructed with an outwardly-flaring recess or throat, a, intersected at its rear end by a vertical passage, b, provided at its upper end with a cap, A. This draw-head A, I shall apply to a car, so as to act upon springs, and so that its front end can be raised or lowered in the usual well-known manner, for adapting it to cars of difi'erent heights. Near the front end of the draw-head holes a -are made, coincident with each other coupling-pin when the common coupling-link is used. 7

B designates a drop-catch, which is hinged to the roof of the recess or throat a behind a shoulder, c. This drop-catch is of sufficient length to engage with the upper shoulder of an arrow-head of a bar, O, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 3. The free end of the dropcatch is connected by a strong chain, c, to the upper end of a rectangular frame, D, which is allowed to receive vertical movement in the recess or passage 1). At the lower part of the frame D is secured to it a lifting-block, D, which is designed for raising the arrow-head of a coupling-bar free from the shoulder atf. (See Fig. 3.) It will be seen that when the said frame Dis raised to free the coupling-bar from the shoulder f the drop-catch B will also be raised free from the couplingbar, thus allowing it to be withdrawn from the draw-head. It will also be seen that when the parts are in the position indicated in Fig. 3 a coupling may be effected by simply thrusting the coupling-bar O into the throat of the draw-head.

E designates a bifurcated lever, which is hinged at g to one side of the draw-head A and allowed a slight play on the pintle of the hinge. The inner end of one fork of lever E is pivoted to the lower end of the frame D. It is by means of the lever E that a person can raise or depress the frame D and effect an uncoupling, or adjust the drop-catch and the lifting-block D so that a coupling will not be effected when a coupling-bar is thrust into the throat of the draw-head. \Vhen the outer arm of lever E is depressed, so as to leave the parts in the position last named, the lever may be firmly held by ahooked catch, it, formed on a bracket, Gr, rigidly fixed to one side of the draw- 8 5 head.

For freight-cars having my coupling applied to them I shall employ means which will allow the lever E to be operated by a person on the roof of the car.

H designates a sliding block, which is movable in dovetail guides it on the bottom of the draw-head A, and which is made with a beveled end, j. This block H is adjustable by means of a lever, J in a direction with respect 95 to the length of the draw-head, and its beveled end is intended to act against the stirrup K, and to raise or depress the draw-head, so as to adapt itfor cars of different heights. The stirrup Kis secured to the platform or to the silltimbers of the car in the usual manner.

Having described my invention, what. I claim as new is 1. The draw-head A, having a throat, a, a shoulder, f, a shoulder, a, and a vertical passage, b, in combination with the hinged dropcatch hung from frame D by chain e, the vertically-movable frame D, lifting-block D, lever E, and the catch .h, arranged and operating substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the draw-head, movable, as described, and the stirrup K, of the beveled sliding block H, working in guides 15 -i 17, and the slotted lever J, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses, this 5th day of October, 1881.

GEO. \V. VVHITTINGTON.

Witnesses:

JNo. O. LYON, JOHN A. HARPER. 

